Ken Cuccinelli: Chris Christie should quit RGA gig

Former Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli said Tuesday that it “makes sense” for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to step down from his role as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

The comment comes in the wake of a traffic scandal that engulfed Christie’s administration earlier this month and is a departure from the more muted reactions of many conservatives.

Text Size

-

+

reset

GOP comes to Christie defense

“I think just from the perspective of setting aside this as an issue in other races, it makes sense for him to step aside in that role,” Cuccinelli said on CNN’s “Crossfire.” “He does not serve the goals of that organization by staying as chairman. And that doesn’t mean any of the charges, political or otherwise, are substantive or not. It doesn’t matter. Perception is reality.”

Christie has denied involvement in the traffic scandal, apologized and dismissed several aides. The effort to show he is taking responsibility for the situation has generally earned him kudos on the right.

Cuccinelli, the former attorney general of Virginia, ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor last year against Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

His comments are “disappointing,” said Christie adviser Mike DuHaime in a statement to The Associated Press, “given the RGA was by far the largest single donor to his losing campaign, giving more than $8 million — a significant portion of which was raised by Gov. Christie.”

A spokesman for the RGA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Christie traveled to Florida just last weekend to do RGA fundraising events with Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is facing a tough reelection bid.